All eyes are on Katowice in Poland ahead of COP24, due to start on December 2. Climate change, never far away from the headlines, is expected to become one of the major focuses of the news agenda in coming days.

2017 saw the largest ever increase in renewable power capacity, falling costs, increases in investment and advances in enabling technologies, according to the Renewables 2018 Global Status Report, by REN21.

IEC and regulators must work together to meet the energy needs of future generations. That was the message of IEC President James Shannon to the Regulator Forum on renewable energy taking place in Busan, South Korea.

A question that I am frequently asked is how well turbines can withstand hurricane force winds. The short answer is that International Standards help to ensure that turbines are built to withstand external conditions that may occur over the expected life of the project.

It is vitally important that equipment manufactured for the renewable energy sector adheres to strict International Standards. This is much easier to ensure when there is a strong and independent system in place for testing and certification.

The first wind turbine certificate has been issued by the IECRE, the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Renewable Energy Applications. Developed by industry players, including equipment manufacturers, power producers, insurance companies, test l